Like a fellow running from or toward a gun ain't got time to worry whether the word for what he is doing is courage or cowardice.

...the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time.

If happy I can be I will, if suffer I must I can.

The quality an artist must have is objectivity in judging his work, plus the honesty and courage not to kid himself about it.

Henry James was one of the nicest old ladies I ever met.

I don't suppose anybody ever deliberately listens to a watch or a clock. You don't have to. You can be oblivious to the sound for a long while, then in a second of ticking it can create in the mind unbroken the long diminishing parade of time you didn't hear.

I love Virginians because Virginians are all snobs and I like snobs. A snob has to spend so much time being a snob that he has little time left to meddle with you.